Device for reproducing recorded communications



Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR 2,366,458

DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING' RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BarfanAProc for ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1945. B. A.PROCTOR DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14,1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 N HHI m d Y n INVENTOR Barron AP/"oc fo/ Jan. 2,1945. B. A. PROCTOR DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING' RECORDED COMMUNICATIONSFiled May 14, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Barron A. Procror 01m7101413 ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR DEVICE FOR REPRODUCINGRECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9 Sheecg-Sheefc 4 NE UINVENTOR fid/TOHAP/OC/"Ol BY ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1945. r B A, PROCTOR2,366,458

DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9Sheets-Sheet 5 w INVENTOR Barron AFmcfor ATTORN EYS WQ W Jan. 2, 1945.B. A. PROCTOR 2,366,453

DEVICE FOR REPRODUQING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS I Filed May 14, 1941 9Sheets-Sheet 6 um r cm a m E O mw m m s w d BY m B Jan. 2, 1945. B. A.PROCTOR 2,366,458

DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATION s 9 Sheets- Sheet 7 RC mmmy ATTORNEYS ,Jan. 2, 1945. I B. A. PROCTOR DEVICE FOR REPRODUCINGRECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941- 9 Sheets-Sheet s f 0 Rm M orE M m A 0 N m n E .J/ A m v 5 m E d I \s g I Q 3 QM E r E 3 M EQQT o wkQ 5 Q Q\\ QN QM M /v mg 4 a b Q Rv S & n/.\. 4 19 3, L T 5 3 D n w 4T11. 0 Q

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Jan. 2, 1945. B. A. PROCTOR 2,366,458

DEVICE FOR REPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Filed May 14, 1941 9Sheets-Sheet 9 I zaz AAAlllAll vvnvnlnr 4f\ E5 xvvevvvvvvx N m & g Q

'INVENTOR. Barron A. Procfar ATTORNE Y5 Patented Jan. 2, 1945 DEVICE FORREPRODUCING RECORDED COMMUNICATIONS Barton A. Proctor, Larchmont, N. Y.,assignor to B. A. Proctor Company, Inc.,,New York, N. Y. 7 a corporationof New York Application May 14, 1941, Serial No. 393,344

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for reproducing communications suchas letters, memoranda, etc., which have been previously recordedon arecord, to an operator who may then transcribe such communications bymeans of a typewriter or other writing device. The invention is animprovement on the reproducing device disclosed in patent applicationSer. No. 218,082, filed on July 18, 1938, in the names of Barton A.Proctor and Ferdinand C. W. Thiede, now Patent No. 2,296,870 issuedSept. 29, 1942. In said application a recording and reproducing machineis shown for recording communications on a very thin flexible recordwhich is frictionally driven at a constant linear speed by means of apair of friction rollers which engage the upper and lower surfaces ofthe record at opposite points. Both the upper and lower feed rollers aredriven at a constant speed by 'means of an electric motor and pulley andbelt driving connections therebetween, which serve to rotate the feedrollers in opposite directions. The matter recorded, on a record isreproduced at the same speed at which it was recorded so that it isnecessary for the operator to transcribe the recorded communication atthis same speed. Since some operators naturally work faster 'thanothers,this arrangement makes it diflicult'for a slow operator who may not beable to transcribe the reproduced communication at such a high speed,resulting possibly in errors in the transcription and also omission ofsome portions of the communication therefrom.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention toprovide means whereby the reproduction and transcription of recordedcommunications may be done at any desired speed which may be best suitedto the operator. For this purpose a variable speed frictional drivinggear is provided between an electric motor and a feed roller whichdrives the record, a convenient control means being provided whereby theoperator may readily change the gear ratio and thereby cause thereproduction of the communication to be effected at any desired speed.

When the reproduction is effected at different speeds, as determined bythe individual operator, it has been observed that there is a change invollime "and also in the pitch of the reproduced sound, the volumetending to decrease and the pitch to become lower as the-speed of therecord and the reproduction is decreased. It is a further object of theinvention to provide compensating means for overcoming these changes involume and pitch. This is effected by means of a control deviceassociated with an amplifier which amplifies the reproduced signals, thecontrol device permitting the volume and the pitch of the reproducedsound to be set at any desired level.

In the aforementioned application a flexible record-is shown mounted ona vertical record spindle which is in turn rotatably mounted in atraveling carriage which moves the record side wise in a direction awayfrom the reproducing stylus. The motion of the record carriage is causedby a feed screw rotatably supported in the record carriage and acooperating half-nut formed on the end of a pivoted arm and adapted tobe brought into engagement with the feed screw to cause the sidewisefeed of the record carriage. The feed screw isconstantly rotated in onedirection by means of a pair of gears, one of which is secured to therecord spindle and the other to the feed screw. The record is bent aboutand supported by a stationary curved supporting plate shaped like aturtle-back, which record support is in turn supported on a metallicframework which also serves to support the electric motor. It is foundthat small vibrations of the motor itself tend to be imparted to themetallic framework and the turtle-back supporting plate and through thelatter to the record itself, any vibrations thus imparted tending todistort the reproduced sound. It is also found that minor variations inthe speed of the motor which naturally occur during the operationthereof and, in the case of a synchronous motor, may be due to hunting,also tend to be communicated to the record spindle and the recorditself, such variations in speed tending to still further distort thereproduced signal. It is an object of the present inventionto overcomethe distortions caused by the vibration of the motor itself by mountingit in such a manner that any vibrations thereof will not be communicatedto the frame of the machine and to the turtle-back support for therecord. For this purpose provision is made for mounting the motor on aplurality of rubber supporting posts or blocks which absorb the motorvibrations. For the purpose of dampening out the minor variations inspeed of the motor shaft, it is a furtherobject of the invention toprovide a yielding driving connection between such shaft and therecord'driving gearing. In the illustrated embodiment of the inventionsuch a yielding driving connection is shown in the form of a flexiblerubber sleeve which connects the motor shaft to the variable speedgearing by which the record spindle is driven.

In transcribing a recorded communication from a record. it is desirablefor the operator to be able toback space the record with reference tothe reproducer in order to repeat a portion thereof which was indistinctor not fully understood. It is an important object of the invention toprovide means whereby such back spacing may be effected by differentamounts whereby the record may be moved back a distance corresponding toany desired number of grooves thereon so as to secure the reproductionof the communication recorded in such grooves. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, this object is secured by causing therecord carriage to be moved.in a direction opposite to its normaldirection by rotating the carriage feed screw in a direction opposite tonormal. This object is secured by providing a reverse feed means whichincludes a releasable clutch which is arranged to break the normaldriving connection between the record spindle and the carriage feedscrew, a suitable electric control device being provided to permit theoperation of the clutch by the operator from a point remote from thereproducing machine if so desired. It is a further important featureofthe invention that this electrical condirection to normal so as toback space the record carriage and the record., In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, the half-nut is maintained continually inengagement with the carriage feed screw while reproducing or backspacing and cooperates therewith to effect the forward movement and backspacing of the record.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of means forpermitting the threads in the half-nut which cooperates with thecarriage feed screw to come into proper engagement with those of thefeed screw when the half-nut is lowered into operative position to causethe feed of the record carriage. In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, such means comprises a floating mounting for the arm whichcarries the half-nut, which mounting is arranged to permit a slightsidewise movement of the arm in either direction along the feed screw inorder to secure proper engagement of the threads on the halfnut withthose of the feed screw. Associated with such floating mounting, asuitable stop means is disclosed to limit the sidewise movement of thehalf-nut and arm so as to cause the desired sidewise movement of therecord carriage.

A cognate object of the invention is the provision of a mounting meansfor the movable arm which carries the half-nut which permitslongitudinal movement of the arm in its pivotal support to accommodateslight differences between the distance between the pivotal support ofthe arm and the carriage feed screw in diflerent machines. In theillustrated embodiment of the invention, such mounting means comprisesan elongated slot formed in the arm in the lengthwise direction thereof,and a pivotally mounted shaft having a flat portion thereof disposed insaid slot, the length of the flat portion being somewhat less than thelength of the arm slot. fl

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for permittinga slight sidewise movement of the reproducer and its supporting arm sthat the reproducer stylus may become properly seated in the sound trackof the record when the reproducer arm is lowered into position forreproduction. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, suchmounting means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed'balls which areso arranged as to adequately support the reproducer arm while stillpermitting a slight side-' wise movement thereof. It is found that suchballs are also eflective in assisting in the prevention of smallvibrations of the frame of the reproducing machine to the reproducerthereof, thus aiding in the prevention of distortion of the reproducedsound.

In cases where the thin flexible records are provided with inwardlyprojecting teeth which tightly engage correspondingly shaped teethformed in the record spindle, there is a strong tendency for the twoparts to resist separation, which may cause some difllculty in eifectingthe removal of a record from the record spindle. It is accordinglyanother object of the invention to provide suitable means for readilystripping the "record from the record spindle. In the illustratedembodiment, such means comprises a slidable connecting device betweenthe record spindle itself and a cap member or stripper mounted on thetop thereof and which is provided with pro- Jecting teeth which engagewith those of the record, the cap member being depressed by the operatorto move it downwardly thus disengaging its teeth from the record. Theadjacent portion of the record is meanwhile supported on the turtle-backsupport.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of dualcontrol means for lifting the reproducer to disengage its stylus fromthe record. In the illustrated embodiment, one such control means islike that shown in application Serial No. 281,811, filed June 29, 1939in the name of Barton A. Proctor, and comprises a cam and an associatedlifting arm which lifts the reproducer, the cam being manually operatedby a control knob under the control of the operator, who positions thecontrol knob ,in a, vertical neutral position when he desires to removea record or to stop the feed of a record for an appreciable period oftime. The other control means, which is a feature of the presentinvention, is arranged to be automatically operated by the back spacingdevice above referred to and serves to lift the reproducer and disengageits stylus from the record for only a brief interval while the recordcarriage is being moved backwards to effect the back spacing operation.

In order to provide a proper support for the portion of the recordcontaining the sound track portion which is in engagement with thereproducer stylus, it is another object of the invention to provide asuitable platen roller arranged to engage the under side of the recordin a region opposite the stylus. A slidable mounting means is providedfor pivotally supporting the platen roller at any desired level,suitable locking means being provided for locking the mounting means inany desired position in a slideway formed in a; stationary frame member.This arrangement permits the level of the platen roller to be readilyadjusted to secure the optimum'reproducing action of the stylus and toaccommodate records of difierent thickness in the reproducing machine. 1

Other objects of the invention will become ap- Fig. 2 is an end view,partly in section of the reproducing machine shown 'in Fig. 1, thesection being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the reproducing machine shown in Fig. 1taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 7 showing the variable speed drivinggearing and the device for effecting the back spacing;

Fig. 4 is a sectional top plan view showing certain portions of themachine shown in Fig. 1 and taken on the section line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional side view showing a portionof the machine frame, and the carriage feed mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the machine shown in Fig.1 taken on the section line 6-6 thereof; I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional front view of the machine shown inFig. 1 taken on the sectio line 1-? thereof;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional front view showing the novel means forconnecting the record to the record spindle and stripping it therefromFig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of thereproducer supporting arm and the novel means for supporting the same;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional front view'showing certainparts comprising the upper portion of the reproducer machine;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the lineiI-I'I of Fig. 12 showing the clutch for connecting the carriage drivinggear with the carriage feed screw, the clutch being shown in itsreleased position;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I2I2 of Fig. 11,showing a portion of the clutch device shown therein in its holdingposition;

Fig. 13 is a skeleton side view showing the back spacer mechanism ofFig. 2 at the limit of its operated position and the reproducer liftedautomatically;

Fig. 14 is a skeleton side view showing portions of the record andcarriage feed mechanisms in.

. aforementioned patent applications for reproducing letters, memorandaor other signals recorded on'thin flexible records formed of celluloseacetate or other suitable flexible material. The reproducing device ismounted in a casing I formed of thin sheet metal and provided withsuitable supporting fe t 2, a record support 3 shaped like a turtle-backbeing supported on the back support 3 for engaging the lower portions ofthe record to maintain it in flexed condition against the support 3. Therecord 4 is driven, through gearing to be described, by means of anelectric motor I having a driv shaft 8. In order to prevent vibrationsset up in the motor from being communicated to the casing I and hence tothe record 4, provision is made for resiliently mounting the motor inthe casing I so that the motor may move slightly with refence to thecasing. This resilient mounting means comprises a pair of angle'shapedbrackets 9 secured to each end of th frame of the motor by the screws I0, the brackets Q being secured to a air of spaced metal bars II and I2.The ends of the supporting bars It and I2 rest on the cylindrical rubberblocks I3, each block i3 being secured in position on the base I4 of thecasing I by means of a screw I5 and nut 66, each screw l5 passingthrough a block 53 and bar II or I2. Vibrations of the motor '8 areabsorbed or damped out by the rubber blocks I3 and thus prevented fromreaching the casing l and record supporting plat 3, and hence the record4. This arrangement thus prevents any such vibrations from causingdistortion in the reproduction.

casing I and serving to support the flexible rec- 0rd 4, front and rearguide members 5 and 6 being provided at spaced distances from theturtle- Referring to Fig. 6, the motor shaft 8 is connected to a wormshaft I? by means of a yieldable connei ting device in the form of acylin-= drical rubber sleeve I8 which fits over the end of the shaft I1and whose opposite end fits over the end of a stub shaft I9 which isformed on the end of a metal sleeve 20 bored to receive the motor shaft8 and secured thereto by a screw 2|. The shafts H and I9 are bored toreceive screws 22 and 23 which pass through the sleeve J8 and secure itsopposite ends to the respective shafts. Minor variations in speed of themotor cause the rubber sleeve I8. to twist angularly more or less andthus absorb such variations in speed. It is also to be noted that anyvertical or sidewise vibrations of the motor shaft 8 will cause thesleeve I8 to bend slightly transversely of its length, thus preventingsuch vibrations from being communicated to the worm shaft I1 and by thelatter to the framework of the machine and hence to the record 4.

Variable speed record drive Referring to Figs. 3, 6 and 7, th worm shaftII carries a worm 24 which meshes with a worm gear 25 secured to a shaft26 which is journaled in a bracket 21 secured to and extendingfrom aplate 28 which extends from the front. to the rear of the casing I. Afriction gear 29 is rotatably connected with the shaft 26 by means of aspline 30, the gear'29 being provided at its lower end with a reducedhub portion 3| grooved,

as at 32, to receive the forked end of a shifter.

arm 33. The shifter arm 33 is formed integral with a traveling nut 34adapted to'receive a threaded shaft 35 journaled at its opposite ends inthe bracket 21. The shaft 35 is rotated by means of a pair of bevelgears 363'I, the gear 31 being secured to the end of a shaft 38 which isjournaled in the bracket 21 and extends through the front wall of thecasing I where it is provided with a control knob 39. The friction gear29 bears against the face of a driven friction gear or disc 40 rotatablyconnected to a feed roller shaft 4| as by means of a spline 42. Theshaft 4| is journaled in a pair of spaced lugs 43 formed on a supportingfram 45 having parallel end walls 46 and 41 (see Fig. 6), the

I, as at 48. Th shaft 4I carries'at one end a friction roller 49 whichextends through a slot 58 formed in the record supporting plate 8 andengages the lower surface of the record 4 for driving the same (seeFigs. 1, 2 and 7). Cooperating with the feed roller 49 in driving therecord is an idler friction roller 5| which engages the upper surface ofthe record at a point directly opposite the roller 49, the idler roller5I being secured to a shaft 52 which is journaled in a'pair of spacedlugs 5954 formed on a pivotally supported frame 55, see Figs. 4 and 7.From the described arrangement it will be seen that the speed of thelower feed roller 49 and of the record may be varied within wide limitsaccording to the ca acity or desire of the operator according to theadjustment of the control knob 39, adjustment of this knob in onedirection serving to adjust the friction gear 29 radially inward alongthe friction disc 48 to increase the speed of the roller 49 and therecord 4, and adjustment of the control knob 39 in an opposite directionserving to adjust the gear 29 outwardly along the disc 48 to decreasethe speed of roller 49 and the record. At any given adjustment of theknob 39, however, the feed of the record proceeds at a constant linearspeed as the center of the record is moved away from a reproducer 58 bymeans to be later described.

Means is preferably provided for the purpose of interrupting the drivingengagement between the friction gear 29 and the disc 48 when theoperator wishes to stop the feed of the record without stopping themotor 'I. The nieans disclosed for this purpose in Figs. 2. 4, 6 and 7comprises a sleeve 51 slidable on the shaft 4| and bearing against awasher 58. The diameter of the end of the sleeve is reduced to provide ashoulder 58a against which is seated one end of a spiral compressionspring 59, the other end of which bears against the disc 48. The sleeve51 carries a pair of oppositely disposed pins 88 which are seated inrecesses provided in the forked arms 8I formed on the end of a rock arm52, this arm being secured to a, shaft 83 pivotally mounted in the frame45. The shaft 53 carries at its rear end an upwardly extending bent arm54 having a-projecting pin 55 arranged to engage an inclined cam groove85 formed'in a cam member 51 secured to a shaft 58 journaled at itsopposite ends in the end walls 59-18 of a frame H which is disposed inthe upper part of the casing I. Shaft 58 is rotated by means of ahelical gear I2 secured thereto, this gear meshing with a helical gearI3 secured to a shaft I4 which extends through the front of the casingI. The shaft I4 is journaled in a cross bar I5 which serves to connectthe end walls 59-18 of the frame II, as shown in Fig. 4, and has securedto its front end an-operating handle I5. With the handle IS in itshorizontal position in engagement with a stop pin 11 carried by an upperwall of the casing I, for reproduction, as shown in Fig. 4 and in dashlines in Fig. 7, the pin 55 and the sleeve 51 are in their extremerightward positions, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, so that the spring 59is strongly compressed and biases the disc 48 into firm drivingengagement with the friction drive gear 29 to cause ,rotation of thefeed roller 49 and the record 4. Upon throwing the operating handl I5into its vertical or neutral position against a stop pin 'l'la, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. the pin 55 is moved leftward by thecam groove 85 thereby causing the sleeve 51 to move away from the disc48 and release the compression on the spring 59 to such an extent thatthe disc 48 is no longer driven.

stoppage of the disc 48 discontinues the rotation of the lower feedroller 49 and of the record 4. Movement of the handle 18 into itsneutral position also raises the idler roller 5| clear of the record inthe following manner, see Figs. 2 and 4. The frame 55 is pivotallysupported on a shaft I9 which extends between the end walls 59 and I8 ofthe frame II and is provided with a rearwardly extending tail piece I9which is biased toward the shaft 58' by means of a spring 88, one end ofwhich is secured to the end of tailpiece I9 and the other end of whichis secured to a pin 8| carried by the frame 1 I. Th shaft 88 is providedwith a cam 82 arranged to engage the tail piece I9 and lower it, thusraising the roller 5I clear of the record, as the shaft 58 is rotated inresponse to the movement of the control handle I8 into its vertical orneutral position. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the cam 82 is clear of thetail piece I9 when the control handle I5 is in its reproducing position,the friction roller 5| being firmly biased against the upper surface ofthe record under the action of the spring 88.

Reproducing device Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 7, the reproducer 58 issecured to one side of a pivoted arm 88 and is provided with a stylus84, the reproducer itself preferably being of the crystal type. asdisclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 218,082. A platenroller 85 engages the lower surface of the record 4 in a region oppositeor slightly rearwardly of the stylus 84, the platen roller being securedto a shaft 88 which is pivotally mounted in a supporting bearing block81, which in turn is mounted for slight vertical adjustment in aguideway 88 formed in the frame 45. A securing screw and nut.88a isprovided for locking the block 81 in its adjusted position. The platenroller 85 may be of the type disclosed in the aforementioned applicationSerial No. 218,082, or of any other desired construction.

The reproducer arm 83 is shown in Figs. 4 and 9 as being in turnsupported for slight sidewise movement on an arm 89 carried by a pivotpin 98, which is in turn secured to the side frame 59. The pivotalconnections between the reproducer arm 83 and arm 89 are shown in Fig. 9and comprise a pair of oppositely disposed recesses 9I formed in aprojecting lug 92 formed on the arm 89. Each of the recesses 9I carriesa ball 99, th balls 93 being arranged for engagement by the recessedends of a pair of short screws 84 threaded into the end of the arm 88,which is cut away, as at 95, to clear the lug 92. A pair of lock screws98 are provided for engagement with the screws 94 to secure the latterin their adjusted position.

In order to raise and lower the reproducer 58, the arm 83 is provided,as shown in-Flgs. 4 and .7,

with a generally hook shaped arm 91 comprising in the manner abovedescribed. This means comprises a rock arm I82 which is pivotedintermediate its ends on a pivot pin I83 carried by the sideframe'member 89, see Figs. 1 and 4. The

front end of the arm I02 is adapted to engage the lower side of the armIN and elevate the same under the action of a cam I04 which is securedto the shaft 63 and engages the arm I02, these parts being shown withthe reproducer 56 in its elevated position in Fig. 14.

Record carrilwe feed As shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. the record 4 is fedsidewise at a uniform speed under the stylus 84 by means of a recordfeed carriage I which comprises the end plates I06-I01 which areconnected together by an angle bar I08, the plate I06 being cut away toreceive a pair of meshing helical gears I09I I0, the latter gear beingsecured to a vertical record spindle I I [which is journaled in theframe member I06. As shown more clearly in Fig. 8, the up er end of thespindle III is provided with an elongated slot II2 adapted to slidablyreceive a pin II3 which is carried by a cap member II4 bored to receivethe spindle III. The

cap H4 at its lower portion has formed thereon about its periphery aseries of outwardly projecting teeth 5 adapted to engage between aseries of similar inwardly projecting teeth I I6 formed on the record 4.The teeth II6 may be slightly longer than the depth of the spacesbetween the teeth II5 so that the ends of the teeth II6 on the I06 ofthe carriage as by the screws I34. Rotation of the gear I09 istransmitted to the carriage record will bend slightly upwards when therec- ,ord is pushed onto the spindle, thereby securing it firmly inposition and biasing its lower surface into engagement with a washer IIL A sleeve H8 is bored to receive the spindle I II and is formed nearits center with a projecting shoulder II9 which is seated in an openingI20 provided in the upper end of the carriage frame I 06. A compressionspring I2I biases the cap member II4 upward toward its normal topmostposition, with the teeth II5 disposed above the turtle back support 3 toengage the teeth II6 of the record. After the reproduction of a recordis completed,

I it may be readily stripped from the record spindle by the operatormerely pressing the cap I down along the spindle againstthe action ofthe spring I2I, the sleeve 8 serving to limit the downward motion of thecap II 4. The central portion of the record 4 is supported bytheadjacent portion of the turtle-back 3 during the stripping action.The central flat top portion of the turtle-back 3 is provided with anelongated slot I22, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit the passage of the capH4 and washer II1 along the machine during the feed of the recordcarriage I05. As shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 10, the record carriage isslidablealong a pair of parallel rods I23I24, the upper rod I23 passingthrough the end plates I06 and I01 and having its right end anchored inthe side frame 46. The lower rod I24 has itsright end anchored in thelower end of the side frame 41, as at I25, and the opposite ends of theguide rods I23-I24 are connected together'by a tie rod I28. The endplate I06 of the record carriage is provided with a notch I21, see Fig.1, to receive the rod I24, which thus guides the record carriage.

' As shown in Figs. 1, 10, 11 and 15, the record carriage is providedwith a threaded feed screw I28 whose opposite ends a e journaled in thecarriage frame members I06-I01 and whose left end Is extended throughthe gear wheel I09 and provided with a recess I29 adapted to receive athrust ball I30 which bears against a recessed screw I 3I threaded intoa thrust. bar I32 whose center portion is bent outwardly as indicated atI33 and whose ends are secured to the end wall in an elongated sleeveI54, see Fig. 6 also, which feed screw I28 by means of a clutch deviceI35 which comprises a sleeve I36 to which the gear I09 is secured andwhich is provided on its periphery with a series of teeth I31. Securedto the shaft I28, as by a pin I38, is a collar I39 provided at each ofits opposite sides with a pair of spaced ears I40, I4I between which ispivotally mounted, on the pins I42, a pair of clutch levers I43 providedat one end with a clutch tooth I44 adapted to engage with the teeth I31and thereby cause rotation of the feed screw I28 upon the rotation ofthe gear I09. The clutch'levers I43 are biased inwardly toward clutchingposition by means of a spring I45 of the shape shown in Fig. 12,'theends I46 of the spring being bent in the form of a U-shape to engage theinner surfaces of the levers I43. To disengage the clutch, the outerends of the levers I43 are moved inwardly by means of a clutch controllever I41 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin I48 which passesthrough a block I49 secured to the side of the lever I41, the pivot pinI 48 being in turn carried by a lug I50 which extends from the sideframe I06 of the carriage. The clutch lever I41 is provided at its outerend with an elongated notch adapted to receive the flat end portion I5IOf a shaft I52 to which is secured a projecting pin I53. The shaft I52is mounted for sliding engagement is provided with a thrust collar Iarranged to engage the frame member I06. The end of the sleeve I54 isprovided .with an inclined cam surface I56 which is adapted upon aslight rotation of the sleeve I54 to move the pin I53 outwardly from theposition in Fig. 6 into the position shown in Fig. 11 to thereby causethe lever I41 to re-. lease the clutch. Rotation of the shaft I52 duringthis operation is prevented by reason of the lever I41 engagingthe flatend portion I5I of the shaft I52. Upon rotation of the sleeve I54 in theopposite direction, the pin I53 rides down the cam I56 and the clutch isengaged, the teeth I44 being biased into engagement with the clutchteeth I31 by means of the spring I45. It will be understood that theclutch is normally engaged during the forward feed of the record, but isdisengaged as in Fi 11 to avoid reverse rotation of the record during aback spacing operation of the carriage hereinafter described.

To cause the longitudinal travel of the record carriage I05 in responseto the rotation of the feed screw I28, and referring to Figures 1, 5, 6and 10, a pivoted arm I51 is provided on its outer end with a threadedportion forming a half-nut I58 adaptedto be urged into engagement withthe threadsof the shaft I28 by means of a sprin I59, the upper end ofwhich is connected to the end of the arm I51 and the lower end of whichis connected to a pin I60 secured to the frame member 41. The inner endof the arm I51 i provided with a horizontal-notch or slot, as indicatedat I6I, adapted to receive the flattened end I62 of a shaft I63 which ispivotally supported in the frame plates 46 and 41. A pin I64 passesthrough the shaft end I82 and retains the arm I 51 in position on theshaft axially thereof. The arrangement described provides a floatingconnection between the shaft I63 and the arm I51, permitting the latterto move sidewise to a limited extent in order that the threads of thehalf-nut I58 may come into proper registry with those on the shaft I28as the half-nut is lowered into carriage feeding position. A suitablestop device is provided to limit the sidewise motion of the arm I81 to arather small amount, the stop device comprising a plate I88 whose upperend I88 is slotted to receive the arm I81 and whose lower end is securedto the plate 41 by means of the screw I81.

Thefioating connection described also permits the arm I81 to movelongitudinally a slight amount on the flat portion I82 .of thesupporting shaft I88, so that the threads on the half-nut portion I88may come into proper registry with those on the screw shaft I28 eventhough in different machines the distance between the axes of shafts I28and I83 should vary slightly.

It will be understood that during the reproduction of a record, therotation of the record and the record spindle III by the gearing abovedescribed will cause the record 4 and record carriage I88 to be movedleftward by the feed screw I28 and its cooperating half-nut I88. Thistransports the center of the record away from the reproducing stylus 84so that the center portion of the record between the record spindle andthe stylus is maintained under tension, with the beneficial effectsdescribed in the aforementioned application. Means is provided fordisengaging the half-nut I88 from the feed screw I28 so that the recordcarriage I88 may be slid back along the guide rods I28 and I24 to itsinitial position after the completion of a record for the reproductionof the next record which has been placed on the record spindle. Thisdisengaging means comprises a cam I88, see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 10, securedto the shaft 88 and which engages the upper end of a rocker arm I88secured to the shaft I88 so that operation of the arm I88 by the cam 88I88 causes the disengagement of the half-nut 188 from the carriage feedscrew I28.

Back spacing device There are times when it is desirable for the user ofthe machine to be able to go back a short distance and have a smallportion of the communication recorded on a record repeatedbeforecontinuing with the transcription. Provision is accordingly made forreversing the feed of the record carriage and moving it and the recordbackwards under the reproducing stylus. The provision for back spacingfurther includes means for raising the reproducing stylus away from thesurface of the record and maintaining it in an elevated position clearof the record during the back spacing operation, thereby eliminating thepossibility of objectionable scratching of the record by the stylus.

Referring to Figures 3, 7, 13 and 15 the back spacing device comprise asolenoid I18 having a supporting frame "I, this frame being in turnsupported on an angle bracket I12 secured to the bottom of the frame 48,as by the screws I18. Current is supplied to the coil I14 of thesolenoid through an energizing circuit comprising the leads I18 and apush button switch I18 (Fig. 16) Movable within the solenoid coil I14 isa plunger I11 suspended on a pivoted rocker arm I18 through the linkI18. A spring I88 serves to hold the plunger I11 in its normallyelevated position as shown in Figure 3, one end of the spring beingsecured to the arm I18 and its lower end to a projecting lug I8I formedon the supporting bracket I12. The spring I88 serves to bias the arm I18into engagement with a stop device, shown as a bracket I82 which issecured to the supporting bracket I12 as by means of a screw I88. Therocker arm I18 i pivotally supported on a supporting screw I84 threaded1 180 the plate 28, and the outer end of the arm I18 is connected to arock arm I88 by means of a connecting link I88. The arm I88 is securedto the end of a shaft I81, as by means of a pin I88 (Fig. 18) tooscillate the shaft I81 for a purpose to be later described. Theright-hand end of the shaft I81 passes through and is iournaled in thesupporting frame 48 and. the plate 28. The outer end of the arm I88bears against a bent rocker arm I88 which i pivotally supported on ascrew I88 threaded into the plate 28, the lower end of the rocker armI88 being biased against the arm I88 by means of spring I8I, one end ofwhich is secured to the arm I 88, and the other end of which is hookedover a pin I82 secured to the plate 28. The upper end of the rocker armI88 is adapted to engage an arm I88 of a bail I84, the arm I88 of whichis pivotally supported on a screw I88 threaded into the plate 28 and theoppositely disposed arm I88 (Figs. 1 and 4) of which'is pivoted on ascrew I81 which is threaded into the frame plate 88. The bail arms I88and I88 are connected together by means of a straight rod I88. The rodI88 is adapted to engage the under surface of the rearwardly extendingportion 88 of the arm I8l, which is attached to the reproducer arm 83,for the purpose of raising this arm and the reproducer 88 so that thereproducer stylus 84 is lifted clear of the record, as shown in Figure13.

Means is provided for returning the repro-, ducer 88 to its normalcentral position should it not be in such position at the time itsstylus is lifted clear of the record. This reproducer positioning means,as shown in Figures 4 and '1, comprises a block I88 which is secured tothe pivoted frame 88 and which is provided with a slot, shaped as shownin Figure 7, and having an enlarged lower portion 288 and a narrow uppera portion 281 which latter is adapted to loosely receive the forwardlyextending portion 88 of the arm I8I. It will readily be understood thatas the bail I84 is lifted in response to the actuation of the relay I18, that the reproducer 88 will be raised so that its stylus 84 iselevated clear of the record 4 and that the marginal portion of the slot288-2M will serve to move the arm IN and also the reproducer to itsnormal central position, as the straight portion 88 of said arm israised into the narrow portion 28I of the slot. It will also beunderstood that as the stylus 84 is automatically returned to thesurface of the record at the termination of the back spacing operation,the reproducer is permitted to move slightly sidewise to permit properengagement of the stylus 84 with the record groove, the enlarged portion288 of the slot in the block I88 permitting such sidewise motion of thearm IN and the reproducer 88.

Referring to Figures 13 and 15, the right end of the sleeve I84 isprovided with a square aperture 282 to slidingly receive a squareportion 288 formed on the shaft I81 and extending along the majorportion' thereof. The end of the sleeve I84 has secured thereto, as by ascrew 284, an arm 288 whose lower end is connected to a pawl 288 bymeans of curved links 281, see Figure 13. The pawl 288 is provided witha tooth 288 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 288 formed on a ratchetwheel 2I8 which is secured to the end of the feed screw shaft I28, as bymeans of a pin 2I I. The pawl 288 is pivoted on a pin 2I2 extendingbetween a pair of pawl carrying arms 2I8 which are loosely received onthe end of the feed screw shaft I28 on oppoaseacce site sides of theratchet wheel 2I0. A suitable stop device is provided to limit thereturn movement of the pawl 206 and the levers 2I3 under the action ofthe spring I80, the stop device herein disclosed comprising a curvedplate 2I4 secured to the end wall I01 of the record carriage as bythescrews 2I5, which plate is provided with a projecting lug 2I6 againstwhich the pawl levers 2I3 engage. It will also be noted that upon thelevers 2I3 engaging the stop lug 2I6, a slight further movement of thelink 201 under the action of the spring I80 causes the tooth 208 of thepawl to be lifted clear of'the ratchet tooth 209 with which it wasengaged, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the rotation of thefeedI28 in the normal direction by means of the driv ng connectionshereinbefore described. The distance to which the record carriage I05 ismoved backwards by the reverse rotation of the feed screw I28 for eachactuation of the solenoid I and the pawl 208 may correspond to onegroove on the record or to 2, 3 or more grooves, as desired. It willalso be understood that as the arm I85 is returned to its initialposition by the spring I80, the reproducer 56 is again lowered so thatits stylus 84 again comes into engagement with the grooveof the recordafter t-e record carriage has been moved back the desired amount.Furthermore, the return of the lever I85 to its initial position causesthe sleeve I54 to be rocked so as to permit the pin I53 to ride down thecam I56 and thereby cause the feeding of the record to be resumed in t enormal direction by the engagement of the clutch I35 in the .mannerabove described." It will be observed that I the back spacing devicedisclosed provides means whereby any desired amount of back spacing onthe record may be secured. Since each operation of the switch- I16causes a single actuat on of the solenoid plunger I11 anda'corresponding amount of back spacing, it follows that to secure doublethe normal back spacing, the operator would merely operate the switchI16 twice. each actuation causing the pawl 208 to rotate the ratchetwheel 2I0 and carriage feed screw I28 by an amount corresponding to thenormal back spacing distance. In Figure 13 the parts of the back spacingmechanism are shown in their positions corresponding to the extremelower position of the plunger I11 and with thestylus 84 entirely clearof the record 4.

It has been found that as the record carriage I05 is moved toward theright during a back spacing operation (Fig. 15), there is a tendency forthe sleeve I54 to bind at 202 on the square portion 203 of the shaft I81and thus prevent the return of the record carriage. This objectionablefeature has been overcome .by the arrangement disclosed in Figures 3 and15, in which provision is made for permitting a slight endwise motion ofthe shaft I81 with the record carriage I05 during the back spacingoperation; For this purpose the end of shaft I81 is seated against abent spring 2I1 whose lower end is secured to the plate 28, as by ascrew 2I8. As the parts of the record carriage including the feedscrewI28 are moved to their extreme positions, as indicated in dot and dashlines in Fig. 15 during a back spacing operation, the shaft-l81 isdisplaced a corresponding distance to the right, causing the spring 2 I1 to be bent into the position shown in dot and dash lines. Upon thereturn of the shaft I81 to its normal angular position (Fir. 3) it isreturned axially to its normal position in the sleeve I54 under theaction of the spring 2".

. Amplifying device Suitably mounted in the base of the casing I(Fig. 1) is an amplifying device 2l8 for amplifying the electricalcurrents generated by the reproducer 56, this amplifier being providedwith a tone control knob 220, and a volume control knob 22I. Theelectrical circuit of the amplifier 2| 9 is diagrammatically shown inFigure 16 and corresponds generally to that disclosed in the aforesaidapplication Serial No. 218,082. The

amplifier comprises the vacuum tubes 222 and v 223, the late circuit oftube 222 being resistance coupled to the grid circuit of tube 223through the circuit shown comprising the resistors 224 and 225 and thecondenser 226. Energizing current is supplied to the amplifying tubecircuits by means of a rectifier tube 221 and a filter circuit 228,alternating current being supplied to the rectifier 221 from the samealternating current mains 229 which supply the electric motor 1, asuitable control switch 280 for the motor being provided, as shown. Theamplified communication may be listened to by an operator who isprovided with an ear phone 23I which may be connected to the platecircuit of the tube 223 by means of a jack 232 and condenser 233. Therecorded communication, as heard by the operator in the ear phones 23I,may be transcribed on a suitable typewriter or other writing device.Where it is desired to have the reproduction listened to by more than asingle person, this may be done by means of a loud speaker 234 which maybe connected to the output circuit of the tube 223 by means of a step-uptransformer 235 and a jack 236. As shown, the amplifier tubes 222-223and the rectifier tube 221 are of the metal type and their shells aregrounded, as shown.

Any decrease or increase in the volume of the reproduced sound caused bythe adjustment of the friction roller 29 to rotate friction disc 40 andthe record 4 at a lower or higher speed, may be compensated for byadjustment of the volume control knob 22I which is connected to thecontrol grid of the tube 222 and which serves to f slower or fast-erspeed may be compensated for by the adjustment of the tone control knob220 which is arranged to adjust a movable contact 239 along a resistor240, this resistor having a condenser 2 of rather small capacity shuntedacross its terminals. The condenser '24I together with the resistor 240andthe adjustable contact 239 constitute a tone control circuit foreffecting a change in the pitch of the recorded sound as reproduced inthe telephone 23I or the loud speaker 234. Current may be supplied fromthe output terminals of the filter 228 to the leads I15 and the solenoidI10, as shown in Figure 16.

While the invention has been illustrated in connection with areproducing machine for thin flexible records which are bent over acurved support during reproduction, it is to be understood thatmaintained flat during reproduction and also to the reproduction ofthicker, rigid records of the type usually employed inphonographmachines.

I have described what i believe to be embodiments of my invention. 32however, to be confined to the embcmm shown but what I desire to coverby Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sound translating device which includes means for supporting athin, flexible disc record and a stylus for engaging the surface of therecord, in combination, a friction roller arranged to engage a face ofthe record to rotate it, constant speed power operated means for drivingthe roller, a variable speed transmission gearing arranged toselectively rotate the friction roller at any one of a plurality ofconstant angular reproducing velocities from the power operated meansand control means for the variable speed gearing settable by theoperator to determine the reproducing speed of the record relative tothe stylus.

2. A sound translating device as set forth. in claim 1 in which thevariable speed gearing comprises a friction disc connected to thefriction roller, a second friction disc having its peripheral margin inengagement with a face of the first disc, and the control means includesmeans for adjusting the second friction disc inwardly towards the centerof the first disc.

3. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 1 in which thevariable speed gearing comprises a friction disc connected to thefriction roller, a second friction disc having its peripheral marginarranged to engage a face of the first disc, yielding means arranged tobias the first named disc into engagement with the peripheral margin ofthe second friction disc, and the control means includes means foradjusting the second friction disc inwardly towards the center of thefirst disc.

4. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 1 in which thevariable speed gearing comprises a friction disc connected to thefriction roller, a second friction disc having its peripheral margin inengagement with a face of the first disc, and the control means includesmeans for adjusting the second friction disc inwardly towards the centerof the first disc and cam controlled means for decreasing the frictionaldriving engagement between said discs.

5. In a sound translating device, the combination of a, verticalrecord-engaging spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a spindletransporting carriage, a screw mounted in said carriage and connected tobe driven by said spindle, a member provided with a threaded portion, afloating mounting for said member constructed and arranged to permit thethreaded portion thereof to be moved longitudinally by said screw as thesaid threaded portion comes into engagement with the screw, means forselectively moving the threaded portion of said member into or out ofengagement with said screw, and a stylus arranged to engage the record.

6. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 5 in which a stopdevice is arranged to engage said member to limit the motion of thethreaded portion thereof along the screw.

'7. In a sound translating device, the combination of means forrotatably supporting a disc record having a sound groove therein, poweroperated means for rotating the record, a reproducer provided with arecord-engaging stylus, an arm rigidly secured to said reproducer forsupporting the same, a support for the arm, means for positivelyeffecting relative movement of the support and the record forreproducing and a pair of substantially vertically aligned bearingscarried by the support and engaging spaced apart points near the end ofsaid arm for pivotaily supporting the same to thereby permit the properengagement of the stylus with the groove in the record,

8. A sound translating device as set forth in claim '7 in which thealigned bearings consist of upper and lower balls seated in recessesformed in the arm.

9. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 7 in which the armsupport which carries the pair of bearings is a second arm, and afurther horizontally disposed support is provided to support the secondarm for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

10. Means for driving the record spindle of a sound translating devicecomprising, a thin flexible disc record provided at its center with anon-circular opening, a cap member mounted for longitudinal movement onthe upper end of the record spindle and having a peripheral portionshaped to snugly engage the marginal portion of the opening in therecord, and a rotatable driving connection between the cap member andthe record spindle for all positions of the cap member on the saidspindle whereby the record may be stripped from the record-engagingportion of the cap member in response to the downward movement of thecap member along the record spindle.

11. 'jA record spindle driving means as set forth in claim 10 in whichthe record spindle passes 12. A record spindle driving means as setforth in claim 10 in which a compression springis disposed under the capmember for biasing the cap member upwardly along the record spindle:

13. In a sound translating device having record supporting means, incombination, a reproducer having a, stylus adapted to engage a rec- 0rdgroove and dual control means for lifting the reproducer to a positionwhere its stylus is clear of the record for all positions of the record,one of said dual control means comprising a cam, a control handleadapted to be manually operated connected to rotate said cam and theother control means comprising an arm connected to the reproducer .andan electromagnet arranged to actuate said arm.

14:. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 13 in which thecontrol handle, cam and electromagnet are disposed closely adjacent tothe record and supported on a single supporting casing.

.15. In a sound translating device, the combinationof a record carriagesupported for sidewise movement, a vertical record spindle mounted insaid carriage and adapted to have a disc record impaled thereon, poweroperated means for rotating the record spindle, a screw mounted in saidrecord carriage and carried therewith, a driving connection between therecord spindle and screw arranged to rotate the screw in one direction,a member provided with a threaded portion, means for selectively movingthe threaded portion of said member into engagement with the screw tothereby cause sidewise feeding of the record carriage and record spindlein a normal direction and means for rotating the screw in the oppositedirection to thereby reverse the movement or the record carriage in theopposite,

feed of the record carriage and record spindle,

comprising driving means substantially fixed against movement with thecarriage and driven means movable by and with the carriage.

16. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 15 in which thedriving connection between the record spindle and screw comprises aclutch and the means for rotating the screw in the opposite direction isarranged to release the clutch.

1'7. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 15 in which themeans for rotating the screw in the opposite direction comprises aratchet wheel connected to the screw and a pawl arranged to rotate theratchet wheel in one direction only.

18. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 15 in which themeans for rotating the screw in the opposite direction comprises anelectomagnet and means controlled by said electromagnet forautomatically interrupting the driving connection between the recordspindle, and feed screw.

19. In a sound translating device, the combination of a record carriagesupported for sidewise movement, a vertical record spindle mounted indirection during the continued rotation of the record in said onedirection.

, it, power operated means for rotating the friction roller, a stylusarranged to engage the upper surface of the record, a rotatable platenroller, a slidable support in which the platen roller is pivotallymounted for adjustment in a substantially vertical plane and means forlocking the slidable support at a desired adjusted position.

21. In a sound translating device, the combination of a disc record, astylus arranged to engage the record, a record transporting carriage andmeans for rotating the record and transporting the record carriage, saidmeans comprising a rotatable feed screw mounted in the record carriage,a control member provided with a threaded portion and a slidable supportsupporting the control member for sliding movement lengthwise of thefeed screw to permit said memher to be moved transversely by said feedscrew as the threads thereof come into registry with those of the feedscrew.

22. A sound translating device as set forth in claim 21 in which thesupport for the control

